Lauren has a condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which is a condition which affects the collagen in her body. It effects 1 in 5000 people, and for the past 5 years she has had multiple dislocations, joint pains, fatigue and lots of other symptoms. Lauren's joints can dislocate around 30 times a day, and whilst she can walk, it is painful and relies on daily doses of morphine. Lauren currently has a wheelchair, but needs to raise funds for another one, which will give her the independence an 18 year old requires.

On top on of suffering from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Lauren also has Gastroparesis, which is a rare condition where her stomach is paralysed due to food being unable to pass through it. She has had numerous feeding tubes, just to try and get the required nutrition in to her body.

Lauren is an active member of The Girl Guide association, and has been part of the movement since Rainbows which is where I first met her and she is treated as a normal member, not the sick person. She is currently undertaking her Queens Guide and recently made her promise as an adult leader.

Lauren has aspirations to become a Primary School teacher and the she is undertaking enables her to do all the work at home as she is too sick to attend normal classes so she dosen't attend classes at all. Lauren can only walk with crutches and very very short distances. which enables to do modules at home, when she is too unwell to attend classroom sessions.

Lauren would love to be able to learn to drive too!

Please help Lauren to become more independent and help get her the wheelchair she needs to achieve this.